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Khamis, 15 Jun 2017

FROM
workouts to healthy diets, many of us make an effort to look after
ourselves. However, we could be compromising our health on a daily basis
without even knowing it. From carrying heavy handbags to wearing
crippling heels, here are the top 10 female habits you should try to
break.

Wearing heels

More
and more of us are opting to wear heels on a daily basis, and this
could be bad news for our health. High heels affect our posture, put
pressure on joints, and can lead to a range of conditions including
arthritis, hammer toes, back pain and tendon injuries – and that’s
before you take into account any heel-related accidents! To minimise
damage, limit your heels to 1.5 inches for daily wear, and wear insoles
to help reduce the pressure on joints.

Carrying a heavy handbag

With
the rising number of gadgets and accessories the majority of women haul
around, many of us are carrying around several pounds of weight on our
shoulders every day. As a result, lots of us are also putting our long
term health at risk. While you may not feel the effects right now,
lugging around a heavy handbag can lead to serious back problems and
neck pain as well as poor posture. Don’t wait until the damage is done –
do your health a favour and try clearing out all non-essential items
and switching to a smaller bag.

Sleeping in makeup

Most
of us have succumbed to the temptation to sleep in our post-party
makeup at some point. However, leaving makeup on overnight – along with
the dirt and oil that naturally accumulates on skin throughout the day
–is a quick route to clogged pores, congested skin and spots. Sleeping
with mascara and eye makeup on can also affect your health by causing
eye irritation, bloodshot eyes or even infection.

Matching men drink for drink

From
networking drinks to first dates and social events, there are many
instances when women may feel compelled to keep up with the drinking
habits of the opposite sex. However, women not only tend to weigh less
than men but they have less body water to dilute the alcohol, which
means they tend to get more drunk more quickly. To minimise the risks of
alcohol on your health, try to keep within the recommended guidelines
for alcohol consumption and alternate alcohol with soft drinks.

Wearing the wrong bra size

It
is thought that more than 70 per cent of women are wearing the wrong
bra size. However, wearing a badly fitted bra can not only affect the
look of your clothes, but research suggests it can cause a range of
health problems including back, neck and breast pain, breathing
difficulties, poor posture, skin irritation, circulation problems and
even irritable bowel syndrome. Rather than guessing your size, make sure
you get measured to ensure you are getting the support you need.

Worrying and harbouring regrets

Stress
is damaging to both our physical and mental health, and women are twice
as likely as men to suffer from stress-related disorders, as well as
having higher rates of depression and anxiety. While it is thought there
may be biological reasons for this, worrying about the future and
dwelling on regrets can also add to our problems, with research
suggesting that women are more than twice as likely as men to harbour
regrets over lost loves and broken relationships.

Obsessing over appearance

While
both genders suffer from body insecurity, many women tend to overly
obsess over their idea of the “perfect” body. Research findings
published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology found that 16 per
cent of the normal or underweight women studied believed themselves to
be overweight, while a study commissioned by Dove found that 90 per of
women wanted to change at least one aspect of their appearance. Body
insecurity not only affects our mental health, but it can also lead to
physical damage caused by extreme diets, yo-yo dieting, eating disorders
and cosmetic surgery.

Emotional eating

While
comfort eating affects both genders, research has suggested that men
are more likely to reinforce positive emotions with food, while women
comfort eat when they’re sad. Women are also more likely to satisfy
their cravings with sweet, high calorie foods. Rather than letting your
waistline suffer next time you’re feeling blue, try distracting yourself
from cravings by doing something you enjoy, or boost your endorphins
and health with an uplifting workout.

Not getting enough sleep

Not
only can lack of sleep make us look and feel at our worst, but
insufficient shut-eye can also lead to increased accidents, calorie
consumption and heart disease risk. Unluckily for women, statistics
suggest that sleep problems affect more women than men, while a study by
the University of Michigan found that women are more than twice as
likely to give up sleep to care for others. Unfortunately, sleep has
been found to affect women’s blood pressure and mood more than men’s,
making it imperative that you do your best to get a good night’s sleep.

Putting themselves last

Not
only are women more likely to compromise their sleeping habits to care
for children and others, they are also prone to putting their own wants
and needs at the bottom of a hectic to-do list of chores and
obligations. To avoid running yourself into the ground, learn to
sometimes say no to those requests and commitments that are less than
essential, and make sure you set aside some “me” time each week to do
something enjoyable just for you.